Shelter Systems

I recently conducted a field test on the NEMO Hornet 2P Tent in the Ocala National Forest. This is my second article on this ultralight tent. My first article was my backyard setup discussing the specifications of this tent and its re-design features. My field test was conducted in the Alexander Springs Wilderness. One of four wilderness areas in the Ocala National Forest.

I left from the Alexander Springs Recreation Area heading south on the Florida Trail. This section of the trail is one of the oldest portions of the Florida Trail. The temperatures were in the 70’s during the day and the evenings dropped down into the 50’s. Backpacking during this time of year in Ocala is very pleasant. The summer’s bring the heat and humidity which can be brutal if you are not prepared. I did some bushwhacking off the Florida Trail, and I set my basecamp up near the Alexander river. I found an elevated area with relatively flat ground. I had my basecamp setup in less than 30 minutes with time for me to explore my surroundings. Evening rolled in fast with a light fog giving the evening a mystic feeling.

When I choose a tent I look for 2 things. The first is comfort and second is protection. A good tent for me involves how easily I can move around within it and the protection it will provide for me during inclement weather. This is especially important if I have to stay in it for an extended period of time. There was no rain or bad weather during my stay. Below is a picture of the NEMO Hornet tent illuminated at night with my led headlamp in the top mesh pocket. This mesh pocket is designed to allow you to put a headlamp in this pocket that illuminates much of the tent.

NEMO Hornet with my headlamp in the inner mesh pocket (Ocala National Forest)

Below is a video I shot discussing my thoughts on the tent. That video was also posted on my You Tube Channel. Overall I see the NEMO Hornet as my go to tent for future adventures in remote and rugged wilderness areas.

The NEMO Hornet 2 Person tent is a 3 season ultra-light double walled tent made for some remote and rugged wilderness backpacking. The NEMO Hornet is not a new tent for backpackers but a newly redesigned version that gives you more head and foot space volume. NEMO designs quality tents with a lifetime warranty. Below are the specifications from their website on the newly redesigned Hornet 2P Tent.

Specifications and Sizing

Capacity

2

Seasons

3

Minimum Weight

1 lb , 15 oz / 878 g

Packed Weight

2 lb , 6 oz / 1.08 kg

Packed Size

19.5 x 5.5 in dia / 50 x 14 cm dia

Peak Height

39 in / 98 cm

Floor Area

27.5 sq ft / 2.6 sq m

Floor Dimensions

85 x 51/43 in / 215 x 130/108 cm

Vestibule Area

7.1 sq ft + 7.1 sq ft / 0.7 sq m + 0.7 sq m

The above specifications come from the NEMO website. The specification card that comes with the NEMO Hornet has the minimum weight of 1 lb 14 oz. and the packed weight is 2 lbs 4 oz.

The NEMO Hornet has 3 design changes that I will discuss and illustrate. The first redesign change are the (2) patent pending Flybar attachments located at the top of the tent. These Flybars expand the upper canopy allowing for more headroom.

Pictured above are the (2) Flybar attachments

The second redesign change is the placement of a rigid stay bar located at the corners of the foot box. This design allows for the foot box area to remain open when tension is applied to the corners of the tent canopy tie down cords. The stays are made of some type of flexible poly tubing sewn into the tents corners.

Corners redesigned with a rigid stay.

Pictured above are the two tie down lines. Between these tie downs there is a plastic poly tubing sewn into the tent preventing the corners from collapsing when tension is put on the cords.

The third redesign change are the smaller clips attaching the tent to the DAC poles.

Smaller clips used to attach the canopy to the poles.

The NEMO Hornets minimum weight is 1 pounds 14 ounces with a packed weight of 2 pounds 4 ounces, (this weight comes from the booklet that comes with this tent). Minimum weight and packed weight can be confusing to understand. The minimum weight of the tent includes the tent canopy, the rainfly, and the poles. This weight equates to 1 pound. 14 ounces. The packed weight includes the tent stakes, extra cordage, and repair kit. This weight equates to 2 pounds 4 ounces. I weighed my new tent and it came in at 2 pounds 6 ounces with everything included, (packed weight). I used my fishing scale which is fairly accurate.

When I select a tent for my wilderness adventures I want to be comfortable in it. I normally purchase a 2 person tent which for me usually means that it is a one person tent due to my size. I am 6’3” tall and I weigh 235 pounds Comfort is very important especially if I have to stay in a tent for an extended period of time due to weather. When I lay in this tent I have ample space to comfortably lay down and move around freely. I can sit up in the tent with no problems due to the increased headspace.

Footroom

Headroom

The Hornet has 2 side pockets and a mesh pocket on top of the tent. The top pocket allows you to put your headlamp in it to illuminate the tent at night. The top mesh pocket is designed to diffuse the light and amplify it throughout the tent. The Hornet has 2 large doors which allows you quick entry and exits from either side. Both doors allow me to store my gear on both sides when the rainfly is on. This is an added benefit for a single backpacker. If two people are utilizing the tent then they each have a door to enter and exit the tent. They also have their own storage area next to the their respective door.

The zippers on the door open and close very easily without binding up. The zipper on the rain fly also opens and closes easily. The seam on the rainfly is far enough away from the zipper which allows you to open and close without the flap getting caught in the zipper. I have had issues with opening and closing some rainflys. The zipper would get caught in the flaps of the rainfly causing some issues opening and closing especially if it rained and the rainfly was wet.

2 Side pockets

Top pocket for light

The tent is a semi free standing tent that requires you to stake out the footbox area for full functionality of this tent. The tent sells for approximately $350.00 dollars online. Before you purchase it make sure that you get the updated model since some retailer are still selling the older version at a reduced price without the above modifications.

There are many good tent designers and manufactures in the market. I currently use Big Agnes tents with no complaints. I have used NEMO in the past and with the redesign of this tent I expect to be using it frequently on my expeditions. I will be doing a field test on this tent with a video on that expedition. The below video is my backyard setup of this tent with me in it.

This article is a product review on the Big Agnes Flycreek (HV UL2) tent. Big Agnes is an outdoor manufacturer who develops and designs a variety of outdoor gear for wilderness backpackers. The types of gear they design and manufacture are:

Tents

Sleeping Bags

Sleeping Pads

Camp Furniture

Duffels and Travel Bags

Apparel ( Men, Women, & Children)

The Flycreek is a three season tent that has been redesigned with a HV designator in its title . The HV stands for high volume. The redesign has increased the interior floor and head space. The door on this version is also more vertical than the previous version. Below are the specs for this new version without the mtnGlo feature. MtnGlo are led lights that are sewn into the tents interior for night time use.

You can purchase this tent for approximately $350.00 online. The tent is lightweight, and it sets up very quickly. The tent is not a full free standing tent but more like a semi freestanding tent. You have to stake out the foot box area to fully expand the floor area of the tent. It is a two person tent but for me it is a one person tent due to my size.

The tent has only one door which limits its accessibility especially if two individuals are utilizing it. The tent that I purchased had the mtnGlo feature in it and in my below video I discuss it. This feature is no longer available with this tent and I am not sure why they stopped manufacturing it with this feature.

I did a field test on this shelter system in the Ocala National Forest and my video on that test is posted below. Overall I enjoyed the tent, and it is very functional for remote and rugged wilderness expeditions. I will use this tent but only for short expeditions, less than 3 days. I prefer shelter systems with (2) doors because it allows me two options for a quick exit if needed. A two door tent also allows me to store more of my gear outside the tent under the rain fly by each of the 2 doors verses a tent with 1 door.